Car roof



July 3, 1923. 1,460,496

' cs. 0. MURRAY CAR ROOF- Filed Ndv. l0 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I f 71 v 6 2a To 2", g ray B i July 3,1923.

G. C, MURRAY GAR ROOF 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov.-

Patented July 3, 1923.

GEORGE C. MURRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAB ROOF.

Application filed November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,264.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved car roof structure of the outside metal type, in which a wooden supporting structure is covered on its outer side by sheet metal.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved roof which is substantially free from leaks. A further object is to provide improved means for draining the moisture of the outer edges of the car. A further feature is the provision of novel means for attaching the roof sheets to the supporting structure'of the roof. Still another object is to provide improved means for supporting the running board upon the roof of'the car. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will be more fully herinafter set forth.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawp ings, in which the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the car roof with a part thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of the car roof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the edge of the car roof showing the connection of the edges of the roof sheets and cover plates to the side of the car;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the roof sheets and part of the cover plate at the center of the car;

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of a portion of the car roof;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view longitudinally of the car through a drain channel and the preferred form of supporting block;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view transversely of the car throu h one of the drain channels and the side p ate of the car frame showing the method of bending the roof sheets and cover plates downwardly over the dripmoulds;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the su porting block illustrated in Figs. 6 and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of supporting block for use in the drain channels;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 6, taken longitudinally of the car through one of the channelled drain members and the modified form of supporting block illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of my improved car roof with arts thereof broken away to illustrate the etails of the construction more clearly; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the running-board saddles.

In the drawings my improved car roof is illustrated in connection with an underframe, or supporting structure, comprising longitudinal side plates 15 at the sides of the car having carlines 16 extending therebetween and carr ing the purlines 17 and the ridge pole 18. be outside sheathing of the car comprises the boards 19, which, together with other features of construction, form the side walls 20 and the end walls 21.

The supporting structure described above carries the roof boards 23 which rest upon the side plates, the purliues, and the ridge ole, and are spaced apart at intervals throughout the length of the car to receive the channelled members 24 which are bent at intermediatepoints 24 above the ridge pole 18, and which form drain channels or sub-carlines extending transversely of the car. The members 24 are secured to the side plates and the ridge pole by angle plates 22 which are'riveted to the upper portions of the side flanges of the channels, The bases 24 of the channel members rest directly upon the purlines and ridge pole, and the side walls or flanges 24 of these members extend vertically in contact with the edges of the roof boards, as shown for instance in Fig. 2, where the side walls have been illustrated as extending slightly above the upper surfaces of the roof boards, which is the referable form of construction. The meta lic roof sheets 25 are mounted upon the roof boards 23 and overlap the channel members 24 with the edges thereof resting upon the inwardly directed flanges 24 which are formed integrally with the upper edges of the side walls 24". The lateral edges of the roof sheets are bent downwardly, as shown at 25", within the channel members 24, and cover plates 26 are mounted above the members 24 and overlap the edges of the roof sheets.

The edges of the roof sheets 25 are clamped between the cover plates 26 and the flanges 24 of the channel members by a plurality of securing devices comprising supporting members or blocks 27 Wl'llChare mounted within the members 24. Each member 27 has a central plate 27*, adapted to engage the adjacent cover plate 26, .and

two integrally formed U-shaped flanges 27", adapted to fit closely between the flanges 24- and the base 24 and also to coact with the side walls 24 of the channel member. The plates 27 of the blocks are provided with holes 28 adapted to receive the bolts 30 which extend upwardly through suitable apertures in the cover plates 26, and are threadedly engaged at their upper end by the nuts 31. In this way the roof sheets are clamped between the cover plates and the flanges 24 of the channel members, and at the same time the supporting members 27 are retained against longitudinal movement within'the channel members by reason of their connection with the cover plates. For convenience in assembling the parts, the bolts 30 are made 7 long enough so that the ends thereof will project through the holes in the cover plates when the heads thereof rest on the bases of the channels, and auxiliary nuts 29 are placed on the bolts beneath the block 27 so that the cover plates are clamped between the nuts 29 and 31. The supporting members are prevented from moving vertically with respect to the channel members by the transverse flanges 24, and thus all of the parts are mutually secured and a water-tight construction eflected without perforating the channel members 24. Owing to the fact that the side walls 24 extend slightly above the upper surfaces of the roof boards, water on the roof sheets is naturally draineda'way from the channels 24, and in order to prevent water from flowing toward the apertures through the cover plates, which are engaged by the bolts 30, the edges of the cover lates are preferably off-set from the centra ortions are held in a higher plane by the ugs 27 of the supporting blocks, whereby there is a very limited possibility that any moisture will enter the channels through the apertures in the cover plates engaged by the bolts.

Drip-moulds 33 are secured to the sheathi ng 19 along the edges of the car and extend upwardly over the edges of the roof boards. These drip-moulds are provided with notches 34 at intervals,'and the channels 24 are extended through these notches as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 11. The upper corners of the outer ends of the channel members 24 are cut awa as shown at 35, and the 11 per corners of t e drip-moulds are rounde as shown at 33. The cover plates 26 and the eeaaee roof sheets 25 are then bent downwardly over the rounded corners of the drip-mould and are secured thereto below the level of the drain channels by means of spikes 35. Owing to the projection of the central portion of each coverplate, it will be apparent that a drain outlet 36 is formed at the end of each channel beneath the cover plate so that if an moisture enters the channel it can drain ownwardly at the side of the car.

Along the center of the car, above the ridge pole 18, the roof sheets 25 on opposite sides of the roof are provided with inverted V-shaped crimps 25 which are interlocked with each other, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, so that a water-tight joint is formed, and the cover plates are bent upwardly over the roof sheets in a similar manner, as shown at 26*. At the ends of the car the sheet metal of the roof sheets 25 may be clipped and fastened, as shown at 25 in Fig, 2, in order to prevent moisture entering the space beneath the interlocked portions of the roof sheets.

The running-board 38 is supported in position above the ridge pole of the car by means of running-board brackets, or saddles, 39, which are mounted directly over the channel members 24 and supported by the block members 27 which are mounted within the .channel members. Each of the saddles 39 is provided with a notch 39 on its underside to engage the inverted V- shaped projection on the roof sheets, and

the ends of the saddles carry projecting lugs 40 having apertures 41 therein adapted to be engaged by elongated bolts 30 which are used in connection with the blocks 27 on opposite sides of the edge of the car roof, so that the saddle is connected directly to the block members 27, and the weight of the car roof is carried by these members. making it unnecessary to perforate the roof sheets or any other part of the car roof in order to attach the running-board to the car. The ends of the running-board are supported by the usual brackets 42 connected to the end walls 21 of the car as shown in Fig. 2.

Instead of employing the pressed metal supporting block previously described. I may use the form of block illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. This modified block 45 has a central plate 45 carrying parallel flanges 45 at its opposite sides to fit between the flanges-24 and the bases 24 of the drain channels. The flanges 45 also coact'with the side walls 24 of the channels. The central plate 45 of each block carries a lug 45 having a slot 46 extending inwardly from one end thereof. This slot is V-shaped in cross section and is adapted to receive the bolt 30; so that after the blocks have been placed in position inthe drain channels the bolts may be passed into engagement with the blocks, and the roof cover plates then placed over the blocks and bolts. When placing the blocks in the channels, the slots 46 are preferably directed downwardly from the center of the roof, so that they will not slide in the channels and pass out of engagement with the bolts. If desired, the blocks may be more securely held in position by forming diagonally disposed ears 4? on the side flanges 45*, and providing holes 47 in these flanges to be engaged by rivets passed through the side flanges of the channels. These rivets should, of course, pass through the channels a considerable distance above the base thereof, so that there will be no possibility of moisture passing from the channels into the interior of the car.

It is apparent that by means of the construction herein described I am able to connect the roof sheets along their lateral edges and at the center of the car without permitting moisture to enter the interior of the car, even under severe hose tests, and a construction is provided which permits the moisture to drain through the edges of the car, even if a small amount of moisture does enter the drain channels 24. The drain channels are held securely in place between the roof boards of the car, and it is unnecessay to perforate them in order to secure the roof sheets and cover plates in position.

Although I have shown and described a certain embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration,-it will be understood that it may be constructed in various different forms without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lYhat I claim is:

1. In a car roof structure, a channelled member extending transversely of the car with its side walls directed upwardly and having flanges directed inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, roof sheets overlap 'iing said channelled member and seating on said flanges. a cover plate mounted over said channelled member and overlapping said roof sheets, and means at intervals across the car for clamping said roof sheets between said cover plate and said flanges.

2. In a car roof structure, a channelled member extending transversely of the car with its side walls directed upwardly and having flanges directed inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, roof sheets overlapping said channelled member and seating on said flanges, a cover plate mounted oversaid channelled member and overlapping said roof sheets. a supporting member mounted within said channelled member beneath said flanges, and means for securing said cover plate to said supporting member.

3. In a car roof structure, a channelled member extending transversely of the car with its side walls directed upwardly and having flanges directed inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, roof sheets overlapping said channelled member and seating on said flanges, a cover plate mounted over said channelled member and overlapping said roof sheets, a supporting mem' ber mounted within said channelled member beneath said flanges, said supporting member having a U-shaped slot therein, a bolt engaging said slot and said cover plate, and a nut engaging said bolt.

4. In a car roof structure, a channelled member extending transversely of the car with its side walls directed upwardly and having flanges directed inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, roof sheets overlapping said channelled member and seating on said flanges, a cover plate mounted over said channelled member and overlapping said roof sheets. a supporting member fitting between said flanges and the base of said channelled member, and means for securing said supporting member to said cover plate. 7

5. In a car roof structure, a channelled member having its side walls directed upwardly and having flanges directed inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, roof sheets overlapping said channelled member and seating 'on said flanges, a cover plate" mountedover said channelled member and overlapping said roof sheets. a supporting member fitting between said flanges and the base of said channelled member. and means for securing said supporting member to said cover plate. the body portion of said supporting member being spaced upwardly from the base of said channelled member.

6. In a car roof structure. a channelled member having its side walls directed upwardly and having flanges directed in wardly from the upper edges of said side walls. roof sheets overlapping said channelled member and seating on said flanges, a cover plate mounted over said channelled member and overlapping said roof sheets. a supporting member having side flanges fitting between said first-named flanges and the base of said channelled member and having the body portion thereof spaced upwardly from said base. and securing means detachably engaging the body portion of said supporting member and connected to said cover late.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

GEORGE C. MURRAY. 

